Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-02
CHAPTER II.

J
Yes, yes, ma thnte, / come. lido but
finish laying aside the books.
CHAPTER II.
The Maiso9 Lacambre was en- tctC.
The only son was coming to spend a
month with his parents Madame La
cambre wore her best black silk, and
Monsieur had discarded his usual home
costume Of dressing gown and carpet
slippers for an alpaca coat and boots.
The Amboise children were Overawed
iato orderly behavior, and the chickens
would have had halcyon days if the ar
rival of Monsieur Adolphe Lacambre
had not struck the death-1nell of the
plumpest of them.
For Monsieur Adolphe was great
parsonage, He lived in Paris, which
speaks volumes, and had to be treated
accordingly. In his personal appear
ance he was perhaps little disappoint-
ing-at least Gabrielle Amboise found
him Disappointing, but then her beau
ideal was an uncommonly well favored
specimen Of humanity, with whom Mr.
hdolpbe's short stature, sallOw com
plexion, and small, irregular features
could not enter into comparison. As
toaCe. lie must have been on the down
hill side of forty, and his years had
written themselves on his forehead and
round his eyes, and had traced out sun
dry white slreaks in his hair.
All this Gabrielle saw with half
glance. as she sat with her aunt on the
hmboise side of the courtyard; while
Mr.. Adolphc and his parents sauntered,
on the first evening of his arrival, up
and down i'm front of the chicken-pens.
"Hc is not much 20 look at, is he,
ma tante 2" she murmured to Madame
Amboisc. "To hear Madame Lacam-
hre talk one would have fancied him an
Adonis.'
"He is not amiss." replied Madame
Amboiscindulgcntly. If he were not
so rouud-shouldered | think he would
be quite passable.'
"You are charitable, ma tante.
"Handsome is that handsome does, y
returned MADAME Amboise. Mon
sieur Adolphe is n man who has made
q good position for himself by ability
and perseverance his looks are a
secondary consideration. y
Just then Monsieur Adolphe, as if to
allow better opportunity for obserya-
ton, crossed the courtyard to pay his
respects to Madame Ambolse. But ii
was not so much Mt Madame AmbOise
rs at her niece that he looked while he
made his obeisance in the most APP
proved Partisan style.
"Allow me to present you to my
husbands niece, Mademoiselle Am
boise, said the elder lady, observing
the direction Of Monsieur Adolphes
glance.
Monsieur Adolphe acknowledged the
introduction by still more consum-
mate bow.
"Mademoisolle is, doubtless, like
myself, a visitor to st. Zite 2" he said
intcrrogatiyely.
Mademoiselle smiled demurely anC
replied in the negative.
"Ah, indeed: then | must note Ma
/ demoi.elle as q fixed star, not as a wan
doring one; vet | do not remember
having seen you here before. "
al have lived with my uncle and aun
for about year, replied Gabrielle.
And it is two years since ] visltec
/ ST. Ute. | came i'll total Ignorance
that the place had gained so much-sC
/ great charm since my last visit D."
/ 1t was a t1ite compliment, and the
flourish with which it was paid did no
enhance It's value. Gabrielle could no
| help feeling amused that this plain
faced. cut-and-dried, middle-aged bach
elor should deliver himself of such {
! school-boy speech ; yet she felt at tn,
same time more than a little hattereC
/ bv his notice and his admiring looks
/ Adolphe Lacambre had always beer
described by his mother as totally IN
| different TO the charms of wOmanklnd
1.-TWO years since you were here be
fore " exclaimed Gabrielle, III reply
That is a long time.
AT your time of life, Mademoiselle
no doubt it is; but at mlne-ah, tina
makes all the difference. Two year
are gone before one has time to thinl
Of them. and | come back to st. Zite t
realize how long my absence has beer
bv seeing all the changes that hay'
taken place. Your charming children
for instance, Madame could scarcel,
have recognized them. devoted as l au
to children.
Eyes. indeed, replied Madame Am
boise. with maternal preOccupatlon
"they 10 grow wonderfully fast, especi
ally Madeleine
;How very charming" answered
Monsieur Adolphe, quite irreleyantly.
1t was not brilliant conversation
but il was more memorable than an.
other in which Monsieur Adolphe ha'
ever Joined. As be said, "Hew yer,
charming " at haphazard, and looke'
| down on the dark curly hair and pll
0uant face of Monsieur Amboise'
niece. he was conscious Of a most unu
sual sensation in the region OF III
heart which impelled him to talk any
thing sense or nonsense, so that h
conld win glance from those brlgh
brown ewes which looked so noncha
loptly across the courtyard while b
stood beside her.
lyon have seen Paris, OF course
Mademoiselle ?" he said presently, II
more original remark occurring to hun
"No, Monsieur | have not. io'
will consider me terribly provincial, NJ
| doubt. but must admit that | onl.
know the life Of Paris by hearsay'
"And what opinion have you forme'
of Paris by hearsay ?"
"Wen," returned Gabrielle, amuse'
bv the solemnity Of his manner. "
have pathered that it must be vastl,
more amusing than life in st. Zite.,
at is very bright and gay and at
,ractiye-outwardly. There is Away
a Great deal TO be seen and thought o
and a great deal Of work to be done
INT for me il is very lonely life
life the charm Of which has long passe
away" u..u
Monsieur Adolphe spoke patheticalii
and as II he were dealing with an Oh
subject Of lamentation, yeti truth TIL
was was the " very first time i had ever %
curred 10 him TO describe his bacheio
existence as lonely.
"Haye Won not many friends IN fari
then ? - asked Gabrielle.
"Ob. yes, friends as far as they go
INIT Il is when one gets chance we
~ domestic life--of true, homeiS
;nterior--that ones own forlorn cond
ton becomes apparent.
20 pua ehaII expect, then, 10 hear 500